Container closure applying machine



0a. 31, 1939. L, J, MAD EN 2,177,990

CONTAINER CLOSURE APPLYING MACHINE Filed Aug. 1:5, 1957 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Oct 1' 1939- I L. JQMADDEN I 2.177.990

CONTAINER CLOSURE APPLYING CHINE Filed Aug. 13; 1937 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 31, 1939. L. J, MADDEN 2,177,990

CONTAINER CLOSURE APPLYING MACHINE ATToRNEYs.

Oct. 31, 1939.

L. J. MADDEN CONTAINER CLOSURHAPPLYING MACHINE Filed Aug. 13, 1937 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS,

Oct. 31, 1939. L. J. MADDEN 2.177.990

CONTAINER CLOSURE APPLYING MACIIIINE Filed Aug. 13, 1957 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 Oc t. '31, 1939. I Y L. J. MADDEN 2,177,990

CONTAINER CLOSURE APPLYING MACHINE Fil e d Aug. 13} 19:57 IO-Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY 5 1939. J. MADDEN 2.177.990

CONTAINER CLOSURE APPLYING MACHINE Filed Aug. 13, 1937 l0 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 31, 1939. L. J.- MADDEN 2,177, 90

CONTAINER CLOSURE APPLYING MACHINE Filed Aug. 13, 1937 10 Shee S 2e;et 9

fjit

Oct. 31, 1939 J MADDEN 2,177,990

I CONTAINER CLOSURE APPLYING MACHINE Filed Aug. 13, 1937 I 10Sheets-Shet 10 J69 .fjgs 46F INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 31, 1939 PATENT OFFICE Y v 2,111,990 comma CLOSURE APPLYING MACHINE Louis J. Madden, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor to swego Falls Corporation,-Fulton, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 13, 1937, Serial No. 158,971

7 Claims.

This invention relates in general to machines for applying hood caps to containers, and relates more particularly to improvements on the type i of machine disclosed in Patent No. 2,047,846 to Wright and Pierce, July 14, 1936.

The invention has as an object, a machine of the type referred to embodying an improvedconstruction for accurately controlling the movement of the containers from the line conveyor to the container feeding mechanism of the machine, with the view of preventing the containers from entering the machine in such manner as not to properly register with the feeding mechanism.

The invention has as a further object, an im-' proved construction for securing the closures to the containers in a particularly eflicient and economical manner. I

The foregoing and other objects will appear as the description of the invention proceeds, and which consists in the novel features, arrangements and combinations hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the machine.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the machine embodying my invention.

.Figure 3 is a vertical, sectional view of the machine with the closure heating oven omitted, and parts shown in elevation.

Figure 4 is a view taken on line 4-4, Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a view taken on line 55, Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the container indexing mechanism shown in the lower left hand portion of Figure 4, with parts shown in section.

Figure '7 is a view, similar to Figure 6, with parts of the frame broken away, and with the bottle indexing mechanism shifted to clutched position. v

Figure 8 is a side elevational view of the bottle indexing mechanism with contiguous portions of the frame in section.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary, vertical, sectional view of parts shown in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a side elevational view of one of the cap contracting heads.

Figure 11 is a top plan view of the mechanism shown in Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a vertical sectional view of the device shown in Figures '10 and 11.

Figure 13 is a view taken on lines |3|3, Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a view taken on lines I 4-| 4, Figure l3, illustrating the cap contracting head contr c ine the skirt of. th p o t the neck of the bottle,

Figure 15 is a fragmentary view taken substantially on line |5l5, Figure 5.

Referring particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the machine comprises generally a base 20 having a depending skirt portion 2|. The base is supported on four legs 22, one arranged in each corner of the skirt portion 2|. The legs are right angular in cross section and formed with inwardly extending bosses 23. The bosses 23 are provided with alined apertures to receive the screw 24 which threads'into nut 25 carried by the upper boss. 'The lower end of the screw 24 is squared to receive a wrench, or other suitable tool, to eflect rotation of the screw, and the upper end of the screw contacts with the base 20 and in this manner the base is adjusted vertically -relative to the floor. The base is maintained in adjusted position by screws 26 extending through the skirt portion 2| and a slot inthe legs 22, and threading into member 28 clamped against the inner side of the legs.

A column 30 extends upwardly from the central portion of the base, being attached thereto by screws 3|. A turret 32, having a hub 33, is rotatably mounted 'upon the column 30. The hub 33 has a'driving sprocket 34 secured to its lower end, and the weight of the turret 32 is carried by antifriction bearings 35.

A post 36 is slidably mounted in the column 30, and is threaded at its lower end to receive nut 31 to which is attached a ring gear 38. Upon rotation of the ring gear 38 and nut 31, the post 36 is adjusted vertically.

The mechanism for contracting the closures about the necks of the bottles is enclosed in a housing 40 to which is detachably secured a de pending cylindrical casing 4| formed of sheet metal. The cap contracting mechanism is carried on a disk-like support 42 having a hub portion 43 encircling the upper end of hub 33 of turret 32. The disk 42 is rotatably mounted upon the upper end of post 36 and accordingly, the hub 43 of disk 42 is slidably mounted on the hub 33 of turret 32, and is slidably connected thereto by a key 44 slidable in keyway 45 in hub 33.

The machine includes mechanism suitable for the application of closures of the type which are required to be heated just before application to the containers. This heating mechanism comprises an oven 41 mounted on housing .40 and extending transversely thereof. One end of the oven structure is provided with a magazine 48 arranged to hold a plurality of closures 49 arranged in stack formation, and the oven further includes mechanism operable to successively withdraw the 'bottommost closure of the stack formation and progress the cap through the oven in predetermined timed relationship to the operation of the machine, and the heated closures are closure contracting head supporting disk 42 andthe feeding mechanism associated with the oven 41 are operated by a motor 62 secured to the under side of the base "and which is operatively connected to a shaft 63 as by belt 64. The shaft 33 is associated with a transmission arranged in the housing 63 secured to the base of v the machine. The turret 32 and disk 42 are rotated by a chain drive from the transmission in -housing 63. This drive is illustrated in Figure 4, and consists of a chain 66 running over drive sprocket 3I, driven sprocket 63 and an adjustable idler sprocket indicated at 63. A sprocket I3 is associated with driven sprocket 33, and a second chain II runs over sprocket I3- and sprockets associated with star wheels I2, I3, and an adjustable idler as indicated at I4. The chain laps a peripheral portion of sprocket 34 secured to the lower end of hub 33 of turret 32, thus imparting rotary motion to theturret and disk 32, 42.

The transmission in housing 65 includes a conventional friction clutch fordisconnecting the 35 motor drive for starting and stopping the machine. This clutch is operated by the manuals II arranged on each side of the base of the machine. A crank I3 is arranged in one side of the base 23 and may be operatively connected to the shaft 33 to permit rotation of the machine by hand for adjustments etc. The ring gear 33, associated with elevating nut 31, is operated by a crank 11. The purpose of elevating the post 36 and the closure contracting mechanism carried 5 thereby is to arrangethemachinetoaccommodate containers of different heights or capacities, such as quarts, pints, half pints etc. In connection with this vertical adjustment, a series-of pointers I3 are adiustably mounted on a stem I3 secured to turret 32. The pointers 13 form a convenient indicating means to advise the operator as to the proper necessary adjustment to be made.

The bottles or containers are fed to and from the machine by a conveyor chain 33 traveling to the right Figure 4. The purpose of star wheel 13 is to feed the bottles from the conveyor 33 to the stools 33 in proper timed sequence. Star wheel 13 and turret 32 are so arranged initially that the concave recesses in the periphery of the so wheel 13 move the bottles toward the turret 32 and discharge the bottles when they are in register with the stools 63. A block 3I, formed of resilient material such as rubber, is secured in each concavity of wheel I3 which maintains the as bottles in contact with guide 32 to prevent rattlhz or shaking of the bottles. As the bottles travel on the turret 32, the closure contracting mechanism descends, contracts the closure about the neck of the bottle, releases the closure and M vertically upwardly to clear the top of the bottle. At this time, the bottles have traveled the lllior portion of the circumference of the turn! and are engaged by the star wheel I2 and rc'noved from the stools 63 and re ansf r d to 15 the conveyor chain 33.

' receive a closure.

From the description thus far, it is apparent that the turret 32, star wheels I2, I3, operate continuously and in a predetermined timed relationship while the main drive clutch of the machine is engaged. As previously stated, the 5 caps or closures are successively removed from the stack formation of magazine 43 and are progressed through the oven 41 and delivered through themechanism 33 which is so amazed that the closure is applied to the top of the bottle 10 or container as it is moved by the star wheel 13. Accordingly, it is necessary that a closure be removed from the stack formation and transferred to the progressive mechanism of the oven each time a bottle or container is moved under the 15 cap dispensing mechanism 63. That is, the oven 41 is designed so that there are approximately fifty caps being successively progressed through the oven, and as one cap is discharged it is essential that a new cap be transferred from the 20 stack formation into the oven in order that each successive bottle transferred to the turret 32 will This is accomplished by a clutch included in the transmission in housing 66 which is operated each time a bottle is trans- 25 ferred to the turret 32, and which operatively connects shaft 33 to the transmission, the upper end of theshaft 33 being operatively connected'to the closure selecting mechanism and the closure progressing mechanism in the oven. 90

The operation of this clutch is initiated by movement of a lever 36. the free end of which is provided with a roller 31 and arranged to be engaged by the side of a bottle as the same is conveyed from conveyor 33, see Figure 6. The lever 36 is connected to an arm 33, see Figures 8 and 9, keyed-to the upper end of a shaft 33 iournalled in a bracket 33 constituting part of the frame orbaseofthemachine. Anarm 3I issecuredto the lower end of shaft 33 and extends rearwardly of the base to the clutch in the transmission. The arrangement is such that when the roller 31 and arm 33 are moved inwardly by engagement with the bottle. the shaft 33 is oscillated vand the clutch moved into engagement to operate the closure handling mechanism associated with the oven.

This invention has as an object, the provision of means for regula ing or spacing the bottles on w the conveyor 33 so that each bottle is arranged in register with the concavity of the star wheel I3. This means comprises generally a housing 34 keyed to the upper end of a shaft 33, see Figures 8 and 9. The housing 34 is of general cir- 55 cular contour having a radially extending portion 34 in which is pivo ally mounted an angle lever 33 having an outwardly extending arm 31 and a latch or book portion 33. A cam member 33 is arranged in the housing 34 concentric with 30 shaft 33 and secured to the upper end of a sleeve I33. As here shown, the cam 33 is mounted on a collar "I which is keyed to the upper end of sleeve I33, and the cam is adjustably secured to the collar by screws I32 extending through as elongated slots in cam 33 and threading into-collar I3I. A pinion I33 is secured to the lower end of sleeve I33 with which a quadrant I34 meshes. The quadrant: I34 is formed on one end of a bell crank pivotally mounted on a stud I33, and 70 the other leg of the bell crank is provided with a roller I33, and is arranged to be engaged by projections IIII secured to and rotatable with star wheel I3. The bell crank and housing 34 are sp ng actuated in one direction and are operated sure contracting mechanism associated with by the projections I61 in the opposite direction, see springs I93, I69, Figure '1.

The shaft 35, sleeve I86 are rotatably journalled in bracket 96. The arm 91 normally extends in the path of the bottles moving on conveyor 30. As each projection I61 engages roller I06 and actuates the bell crank, the sleeve I 66 is oscillated together with cam 53. However, no movement is imparted to housing 34 or arm 91. This is due to the fact that lever 36 is urged about its pivot in a clockwise direction Figure 6, by spring IIB maintaining the latch or book portion 88 out of engagement with notch I Ii on cam 99. As a bottle is conveyed on conveyer 80 and engages the outer end of arm 91, the lever 96 is moved about its pivot against the action of spring H0, and when cam 99 is oscillated, as hereinbefore described, the tooth or notch III engages the latch 98 and movement is imparted to both housing 64 and lever arm 91, moving the lever arm out of the path of travel of the bottle and permitting the bottle to be conveyed by the conveyor III into a concavity of star wheel 13. The projections I61,

i as previously stated, are secured to and rotatable with star wheel 13, and are so arranged relative to the concavities of the wheel as to effect movement of the arm 91, and to permit a bottle to be conveyed into the star wheel when the star wheel is in position to receive the bottle.

It will be understood that the contain rs are usually in the nature of glass bottles, and are conveyed by the flat chain 80. Accordingly. if a bottle approaches the star wheel. but is not in a registering position, the bottle will be held stationary by the arm 31 until the star wheel has moved into proper position, during which time the conveyor chain 36 will simply slide under the bottom of the bottle.

With this mechanism, it is impossible for bot tles to be squeezed between the points of'the star wheel and guide 32, thus eliminating scratched and broken bottles. 7

Means is provided for maintaining the clutch associated with shaft 85 in engagement for the purpose of operating the oven mechanism to precede the caps into and through the oven to load the same preparatory to the commencement of the closure applying operation of the machine. This means is in the nature of a lever II having a hub portion II6 arranged concentrically with the shaft 89. The hub portion II1 of lever 88 is provided with a peripheral shoulder H6, and the hub portion II 6 of lever H5 is provided with a pin H9 arranged to engage the shoulder IIB. A bracket I29 is secured to the frame of.

themachine and provided with an arcuate slot I2I, and the lever H5 is provided with a stud I22 anda wing nut I23, whereby the lever II5 may be held in position at either end of the slot I2I. When the lever H5 is moved counterclockwise Figure 4, the pin II! engages shoulder II8 effecting rotation of the shaft 89 in the same manner as if a bottle had contacted roller 61 and moved lever 36 inwardly.

The housing 46 is mounted on a supporting member secured to the upper end of post 36 by key I30, and having a triangular shaped radially extending flange I3I, see Figures 3 and 5. The housing 40 is secured to the upper side of flange I3I by cap screws I32, and a cam member I33 is secured to the under side of said flange by screws I34. The cam I33 is formed with a lobe or high portion I35 arranged toward the front of the machine and is employed to operate the clo heads 6| ,as will be hereinafter described.

A cam track I36 is secured to the housing 46 and is of general arcuate formation to conform tovthe curvature of the housing 46, and is arranged concentrlc with the axis of the machine or post 36. The purpose of cam I36 is to eflect vertical movement of the heads 6! and accordingly, is arranged adjacent the front side of the machine to effect vertical upward movement of the heads 6| as the containers approach star wheel 12, and to effect downward movement of the heads 6i as the containers are moved onto the stools 60 by star wheel 13. Inasmuch as housing 46 and cam I33 are carried by and keyed to post 36, they remain stationary and likewise, cam I36 carried by housing 46 is stationary.

As previously explained, the disk member 42 is rotatably mounted on post 36 and moves in synchronism with turret 32. The disk 42 is formed with an upwardly extending annular peripheral flange I46, the periphery of which is formed with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart recesses I 4| in which heads 6| are slidably mounted, seeFigures 4 and 5.

The heads 6i comprise a body I42 formed with side flanges I43 slidably mounted in recesses I4I, Figures 10 and 11, and are held therein by gibs I44 secured to the periphery of supporting member 42, as by screws I45. The body I42 is provided with a roller I46 carried on a stud I41,

the roller I46 being arranged in the path of cam I36 to effect vertical movement of heads 6I. The downward movement of body I42 is limited by a stop member I 43 secured in flange I46 of support member 42.

As previously stated, the heads 6I include mechanism operable for contracting the closure about the top of the container. This mechanism is carried by a cup shaped member I56 secured to the lower end of body I42, as by screws I5I, and

is provided with a centrally located aperture to slidably receive stem I53 having a pad I54 on its lower end. i

An annular member I51 is rotatably mounted upon the lower end of cup member I56, being retained in place by a ring I56 secured to' the bottom edge'oi member I56, as by screws I53. A cylindrical casing I66 is detachably secured to annular member I51, as by screws I6I, and is formed with an inwardly extending flange I62. A ring member I63 is arranged in the casing I 66 an: is secured to flange I62 thereof as by rivets I6 A plurality of closure engaging members I65 are pivotally mounted at one end to ring member I63, and are provided intermediate their ends with upwardly extending pins I 66. 'The retaining ring I53 is formed with aplurality of slots I69 extending in angular relationship to the radii of said member and which receive the ends of pins I66. Upon relative rotatable movement of annular member I51, the closure engaging members I65 are caused to move about their pivots effecting radial movement of the free ends thereof after the manner of a camera shutter.

Means is provided for eifecting rotation of annular member I51 and resilient means for maintaining members I65 in in position. This means comprises a shaft I10 journalled in bushings "I mounted in supporting member 42. A fork member I12 is secured to the lower end of shaft I16, and a roller I13 is mounted between the arms of fork member I12 and arranged in a notch I14" lar member I01. The upper ends of shafts I10 are journalled in bushings I10 arranged on inwardly extending bosses I11 of an annular member I10 secured to flange I40 of support member 42 as by screws I10. An arm I00 is secured to shaft I10 intermediate bearings I1I, I10'.- The outer end of arm I00 is provided with a socket to receive the ball end of rod I 0|, the outer end of which is slidably mounted in an aperture formed in the periphery of flange I40 of the supporting member, or rather in a plug I02 threaded into the flange. A helical compression spring I00 is-inserted between the inner side of plug I02 and the inner ball end of rod I 0|, whereby the rod is urged radially inwardly and shaft I10 rotated counter-clockwise, see Figures 3 and 5. The arrangement of the mechanism in heads 0i is such that when the shaft I10 is thus rotated by spring I00, the closure engaging members I05 are moved inwardly toward plunger I54.

An arm I00 is secured to the upper end of shaft I10 and is provided at its outer end with a roller IOI, the arrangement being such that the roller IOI engages and follows the periphery of cam I00. The adjustment of the arm I90 relative to shaft I10 is such that when the roller .I9I is in engagement with the lower or inner portion of cam I 00, the closure engaging members I05 are maintained in in position by springs I00. As the support member 42 and closure contracting heads 0| rotate, the rollers IOI engage the high portion or lobe I00 of cam I 00 effecting a clockwise movement of shafts I10 and an outward movement of cap engaging members I05. As previously stated, the lobe I 05 of cam I00 is so arranged that the cap engaging members I05 are moved outwardly as the containers approach the discharge star wheel 12, and are maintained in this condition until they travel to a position adJacent star wheel 10, at-which time the heads 0I descend oil! from cam track I00, and the rollers IOI pass off from the lobe I05 of cam I00.

It will be observed that the closure contracting members I05 are moved outwardly from engagement with they closure by positive movement of arm I00 by cam I00, while inward contracting movement is effected only by springs. I 00. This arrangement compensates for slight variations in the diameter of the container tops, and if the v containers are formed of glass, or other breakable substance, prevents damage to the container.

In order to effect positive contracting movement of the members I05, the machine is provided with what might be termed a kicker cam 200. The purpose of this cam is to insure movement of the rollers I9I from the lobe I05 of cam I00 to the low surface of the cam. At this point, the closures are in more or less flat disk formation and offer more or less resistance to both the downward movement of heads 0| and the inward movement of members I05. The kicker cam 200 is pivotally mounted at one end on a stud 20I carried by support member 42. The opposite end of the cam is provided with an elongated slot 202 of arcuate formation, and in which is arranged a stud 200 secured to support member 42. The kicker cam 200 is urged about pivot 20I toward cam I00 and is provided with an arcuate face 204 adjacent its pivoted'end, and an angular surface 205.1nto which the arcuate surface 204 merges,

and the surface 200 joins angular surface 200 at the free endof the cam. The surfaces 204, 200

and 200 confront the periphery of cam I00. The

1 cam 200 is urged toward cam I00 by'helical comsimilar formation to rods IOI previously referred to. The spring 201 is adjusted by plug 200 threaded in the housing 40.

A kicker cam 2I0 is arranged at the tail end of the cam track I00 to effect more positive the downward movement of the contracting heads SI as these heads initially contract the caps on-the bottles. This cam is pivoted at one end on a bolt 2 extending through the cam I00, and the cam is yieldingly urged downward bya helical compression spring 2I2 interposed between the cam 2I0 and the under side of the top surface of the housing 40, or between the cam and a plug 2I0 which is adjustable in the housing 40 to vary'the tension of the spring 2I2.

What I claim is:

1. A machine for applying closures to containers comprising a base, a container carrying turret revolv'ably mounted on said base, means operable to transfer containers with closures thereon to said turret, a support mounted on the base and extending upwardly therefrom, an annular series of closure contracting heads carried by said supportand being rotatable with said turret, said heads being arranged in alinement respectively with the containers on the turret and being movable vertically toward and from said turret to fold the marginal portion of the closures about the top of the containers, each of said heads including an annular member mounted upon the lower end thereof and being rotatable relatively thereto, a plurality of closure contracting members pivotally mounted at like ends to said annular member, the free ends of said members normally overlying said annular member to permit the top of the container with the closure thereon to pass through said annular member, means carried by the heads and cooperable with said contracting members intermediate their ends to effect radial movement of the free ends of said members into engagement with the closure to contract the same about the top of the bottle upon rotary movement of said annular member, and means operable to rotate said annular member and to yieldingly hold said members in engagement with the closure.

2. A machine for applying closures to containers comprising a base, a container carrying turret revolvably mounted on said base, means operable to transfer containers with closures thereon to said turret, a support mounted on the base and extending upwardly therefrom, an annular series of closure contracting heads carried by said support and being rotatable with said turret, said heads being arranged in alinement respectively 'with the containers on the turret and being movable vertically toward and from said turret to fold the marginal portion of the closures about the top of the containers, each of said heads including a body member and an annular member rotatably secured to the end of the body member, a plurality ofclosure contracting members arranged in the head and normally overlying said annular member to permit the top of the container with the closure thereon to pass into the head, said members being movable into engagement with the closure to contract the same upon the container upon rotation of said annular member, and means operable to effect rotation of said annular member. r t 0. A machine for applying closures to containers comprising a base, a container carrying turret revolvably mounted on said base, means operable to transfer containers with closures "thereon to said turret, a support mounted on the base and extending upwardly therefrom, an annular series of closure contracting heads carried by said support and being rotatable with said turret, said heads being arranged in alin'ement respectively with the containers on the turret and being movable vertically toward and from said turret to fold the marginal portion of the closures about the top of the containers, each of said heads including a body member and an annular member rotatably secured to the end of the body member, a plurality of closure contracting members arranged in the head and normally overlying said annular member to permit the top or the container with the closure thereon to pass into the head, said members being movableinto engagement with the closure to contract the same about the top of the container, means operable to effect rotation of said annular member and to yieldingly urge said contracting members against the closure.

4. A machine for applying closures to containers comprising a base, a container carrying turret revolvably mounted on said base, means operable to transfer containers with closures thereon to said turret, a support mounted on the base and extending upwardly therefrom, an annular series of closure contracting heads carried by said support and being rotatable with said turret, said heads being arranged in alinement respectively with the containers on the turret and being movable vertically toward and from said turret to fold the marginal portion of the closures about the top oi the containers, each of said heads including a body member and an annular member rotatably secured to the end of the body member, a plurality of closure contracting members arranged in the head and being pivotally secured at like ends to one of said members, motion transmitting means connecting each of said contracting members intermediate their ends with said other member, said contracting members normally overlying said annular member to permit the top of the container with the closure thereon to pass into the head and being operable upon rotation of said annular member to move radially inwardly and contract the closure about the top of the container, and means operable to eilect rotation of said annular member.

.5. A machine for applying' closures to containers comprising a base, a container carrying turret revolvably mounted on said base, means operable to transfer containers with closures thereon to said turret, a support mounted on the base and extending upwardly therefrom, an annular series of closure contracting heads carried by said support and being rotatable with said turret, said heads being arranged in alinement respectively with the containers onthe turret and being movable vertically toward and from said turret to fold the marginal portion of the closures about the top oi the containers, each or said heads including a body member and an annular member rotatably secured to the end of the body member, a plurality of closure contracting members arranged in the head and being pivotally secured at like ends to saidannular member, the free ends of said contracting members normally overlying said annular member to permit the top of the container with the closure thereon to pass into the head. motion transmitting means connecting each of said annular member.

said. contracting members intermediate their ends with the body member of -the head, and the free cndsof said contracting members being movable radially inwardly to engage the closure upon rotation of said annular member, and means operable to efiect rotation of said annular member. I

6. A machine for applying closures to .containers comprising a base, a container carrying turret revolvably mounted on said base, means operable to transfer containers with closures thereon to said turret, a support mounted on the base and extending upwardlytherefrom, an annular series of closure contracting heads carried by said support and being rotatable with said turret, said heads being arranged in alinement respectively with the containers on the turret and being movable vertically toward and from said turret to foldthe marginal portion of the closures about the top 01' the containers, each of said heads including a body member and an annular member rotatably secured to the end of the body member,v a plurality of closure contracting members arranged in the head and normally overlying-said annular member to permit the top of the container with the closure thereon to pass into said head, saidcontracting members being movably mounted upon said annular'member, the confronting end of the body member of the head being formed with a plurality of slots extending in angular relationship to the radii of the head, each of said contracting members being provided with a pin projecting in said slots respectively, said pins and slots being cooperable upon rotation of said annular member to effect movement of said contracting members radially inwardly to contract the closure about the top of the container, and means operable to eflect rotation of said annular member.

'i. A machine for applying closures to containers comprising a base, a container carrying" turret revolvably mounted on said base, means operable to transfer containers with closures.

thereon to said turret, a support mounted onthe base and extending upwardly therefrom, an

annular series of closure contracting heads carried by said support and being rotatable with said turret, said heads being arranged in alinement respectively with the containers on the turret and being movable vertically toward and from said turret to fold the marginal portion of the closures about the top of the containers,

each of said heads including a body member and an annular member rotatably secured to the body member, a plurality of closure contracting members arranged in the head and being movably moimted on one of said body members and normally overlying said annular member to permit the top of the container with the closure thereon to pass into said head, each of said contracting members having a pin and slot connection with said other head member and operable upon rotation of said annular member to eiiect movement of said contracting members radially inwardly into engagement with the closure and forming a substantially continuous contractile member to contract the closure on the container, and means to effect rotation of more J. MADDEN. 

